Govt defers schools opening

Harare, (New Ziana) – The government said on Wednesday the opening of schools for the first term of 2021, which was set for January 4, has been postponed till further notice due to the resurgent rise in Covid-19 cases.

Writing of final examinations, which commenced late last month, will however proceed on January 5 to February 5, the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education said.

“Having deferred the opening of schools beyond 04 January, 2021, the dates for the commencement of the 2021 schools calendar for all primary and secondary schools will be announced in due course as government monitors the situation,” the Ministry said.

Zimbabwe has to date recorded 13 325 cases of Covid-19 and 359 deaths since March. While cases had slowed down in the past three months, a second wave of the virus, coupled with emergency of a new variant of the disease detected in neighbouring South Africa, has forced government to deviate from its plans.

The education ministry said the impending tropical storm Chalane, which is expected to hit the country anytime this week, had further compounded the situation.

Schools were closed for the better part of the year as Covid-19 ravaged the world, with government having taken the bold decision to open them for the third term to allow for writing of final examinations.

The re-opening was however despite protestations by some parents and teacher organisations that felt it was still unsafe to do so.
New Ziana